This sweet-as FE wagon is the latest in a respectable list of builds from the shed of Danny Hoy, and it came about via a series of fortuitous circumstances.

First published in the May 2026 issue of Street Machine

Danny had long been aware of this classic Holden, which had been parked up for some 50 years, but it was only by happenstance that he learned it was being offered for sale. This coincided with his mission to find a four-door project to take the grandkids for runs once they’d outgrown their booster seats. Fate was smiling upon both Danny and the wagon.

The story goes that Walcha locals Barbara and Stewart Dunn purchased the car new – it was their courting car! Unfortunately, it copped a hit in the front right in 1969 and had been parked in a shed ever since. Stewart passed away around seven years ago, at which point Barbara decided to put the car up for sale. Danny heard about the sale from somebody at the local pub. Talk about right place, right time!

The wagon sat in Danny’s shed for a further three years before the three-year build began. Not looking to build anything too wild or over-the-top, Danny wanted to retain the car’s original character, while modernising the suspension and driveline.

“We bought a late-model Statesman for its LS1 engine, four-speed auto, ECU, wiring, fuel system and a few other bits and pieces,” he says. Shoehorning the alloy Chev under the FE’s bonnet was somewhat simplified thanks to the incorporation of a V6 Conversions bolt-in, double A-arm front end. Based around VR-VS Commodore architecture, it uses the VR-VS lower arms and stub axles but incorporates a top A-arm that bolts up where the base of the strut originally would have. The set-up runs coil-overs and is designed to work with various Commodore rack-and-pinion steering systems. Danny’s FE uses a VL power rack.

While the V6 Conversions IFS works with the Commodore LS sump, some subtle trimming of the chassis rails was required for header clearance, in addition to a larger tunnel to house the heftier Statesman gearbox. The headers started life as an off-the-shelf set, which Danny and Gary Dunn heavily modified before Aiden Goodwin applied the final TIG welds. Being a carpenter by trade, Danny created a wooden mock-up of the custom fuel tank, which Aiden replicated in aluminium.

The LS was also fitted with a high-mount alternator, along with a bellhousing that relocated the starter across to the passenger side. To keep the engine bay open, a 90-degree, right-angle kit was used to mount the brake booster and master cylinder under the dashboard.

Due to a lack of engine bay real estate, a 12-volt-powered air con pump and the main a/c unit itself were mounted in a custom enclosure behind the wagon’s rear seat. This ended up being a lot more work than anticipated. The a/c lines running up to the condenser mounted in front of the Aussie Desert Cooler radiator were routed inside the extra chassis rails, which were added to increase vehicle rigidity to better handle the torque of the LS V8. Running the necessary ducting to the interior vents also proved challenging, and ultimately it resulted in some unusual positioning of the vents.

In tandem with the modern front suspension, the FE was also outfitted with a V6 Conversions IRS rear. Based around a VE/VF centre section, it sports coil-overs, is fully adjustable, and is specifically engineered to suit narrow, early Holdens. Everything mounts into a main cradle, which in turn bolts into the original leaf spring locations. Unlike the sedans – which require slight floor mods – it slotted straight into Danny’s wagon.

Although the car was destined to be a cool cruiser, that didn’t mean Danny didn’t want a bit of poke under the bonnet. With this in mind, the Statesman’s LS1 was shipped to Glenn Michell at Moonbi Service Station for a freshen-up. The heads were cleaned up and decked 10thou to increase compression. There’s JE pistons, LS7 lifters and Crow double valve springs, plus a lumpier hydraulic-roller cam.

Making the most of these modest mods is the Brian Tooley Racing Equalizer high-rise intake manifold, fronted by a 102mm throttlebody. The combo sounds raspy and purposeful through the ceramic-coated headers and single, three-inch stainless exhaust.

“A few people have commented that they’re not fans of the modern wheels,” says Danny. “I like them. Besides, it’s a matter of what you’re actually able to buy. The V6 Conversions front and rear use Commodore stud pattern. They also require quite a low offset wheel to enable the wagon to sit low over its 17-inch tyres without rubbing.”

Having been in storage for over 50 years, there was virtually no rust in the wagon. “Two tiny little spots,” says Danny. “Other than that, it was 100 per cent clean.”

Nonetheless, Robin Frank still spent considerable hours dialling in the panels and shut lines before John McDiamond and Spagone laid on the gorgeous two-tone champagne and honeycomb paint. While not factory colours, they look period-correct and really suit the wagon’s lines.

Inside the cabin, the team at Armidale Auto Upholstery worked their magic, rejuvenating the front and rear bench seats before covering them in the same diamond-patterned Nappa leather as the custom door trims. They’re accentuated by Mercedes fine-tufted carpet, suede headlining and a host of billet dash knobs.

About six months prior to finishing the car, Danny and the car’s previous owner, Barbara, happened to cross paths. “We were both giving blood,” says Danny. “She asked me if the car was finished yet. After Summernats, I went ’round and took her and her two sons for a run. Now in her late 80s, Barbara was very, very happy; almost tearing up.”

Talk about fortuitous circumstances!

A/C WITH DC

This ventilated enclosure (below) was created to house the 12-volt powered air con compressor, the main air con unit, and the wagon’s main battery.

The biggest downside of using an electric a/c pump is that they suck bulk power. Their significant current draw requires a substantially higher output alternator, which in turn consumes more horsepower to drive. However, they do enable the fitment of a/c into vehicles where adding a belt-driven compressor is not possible.

DANNY HOY
1956 HOLDEN FE STATION WAGON

THANKS
Gary Dunn; Juan Carey; Robin Frank; Aiden Goodwin; John McDiamond; Spagone; Armidale Auto Upholstery; Brad Keable; O’Brien Glass; Moonbi Service Station; my wife Vickie for all her support.